Best Cities for Families in Oregon
Oregon for Families: The Full Picture
Oregon lands in the middle of the pack for families at #21 out of 50 states. The state has genuine strengths — transportation scores strong at 69/100 — but also areas that may give parents pause. The 81% high school graduation rate leaves room for improvement, and the median home price of $505,000 may stretch family budgets.
Education is the single most important factor for families choosing where to live, and Oregon shows mixed results on this front. The state's high school graduation rate stands at 81%, trailing the national average. School quality has been a consistent strength, reflected in an education score of 63/100. At $13,364 per year for infant care, childcare is a significant budget item that families need to plan for.
Safety is the other pillar of family-friendly living. Oregon performs reasonably well, with a violent crime rate below the national average at 292 incidents per 100,000 residents. The higher cost of living (index: 105) means families typically need above-average incomes to maintain a comfortable standard of living.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Families
| # | City | Grade | Families Score | Overall | Education | Safety | Affordability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Oswego | A+ | 66.9 | 68.4 | 70 | 94 | 43 | 40,367 |
| 2 | Bethany | A+ | 62.4 | 67.1 | 63 | 68 | 42 | 31,700 |
| 3 | Bend | A | 61.5 | 62.5 | 45 | 83 | 52 | 104,554 |
| 4 | Corvallis | B | 61.1 | 56.3 | 56 | 73 | 61 | 60,424 |
| 5 | Beaverton | B+ | 60.3 | 59.7 | 58 | 73 | 56 | 96,946 |
| 6 | Tigard | A | 60.1 | 62.3 | 58 | 64 | 54 | 55,395 |
| 7 | Hillsboro | A | 59.9 | 61.0 | 56 | 69 | 56 | 107,726 |
| 8 | Redmond | B+ | 59.3 | 58.0 | 50 | 78 | 56 | 35,161 |
| 9 | McMinnville | B | 59.2 | 55.2 | 60 | 77 | 59 | 34,493 |
| 10 | Oregon City | B+ | 58.3 | 59.7 | 44 | 80 | 52 | 37,482 |
| 11 | Aloha | B+ | 58.1 | 57.3 | 61 | 68 | 53 | 53,362 |
| 12 | Eugene | C+ | 54.9 | 52.3 | 48 | 61 | 63 | 177,900 |
| 13 | Keizer | B | 54.3 | 53.6 | 44 | 73 | 58 | 39,013 |
| 14 | Albany | C+ | 53.5 | 51.3 | 29 | 79 | 65 | 56,773 |
| 15 | Springfield | C+ | 53.0 | 50.2 | 39 | 66 | 67 | 61,642 |
| 16 | Gresham | C+ | 52.3 | 51.6 | 41 | 60 | 61 | 110,678 |
| 17 | Salem | C+ | 51.5 | 50.2 | 45 | 54 | 65 | 177,423 |
| 18 | Medford | C+ | 51.1 | 49.7 | 43 | 51 | 64 | 85,100 |
| 19 | Portland | C+ | 49.9 | 52.7 | 59 | 17 | 56 | 630,395 |
| 20 | Grants Pass | C | 49.9 | 46.9 | 38 | 55 | 67 | 39,183 |